Stripping and cleaning machine.



ITO-826,918.

. PATEN'TBD. JULY 24, 1906.

B. BEHRBNDT.

I 2 BHHET8-BHEBT 1.

=T\ M N PATENTBD JULY 24, 1906.

Nor 826,918.

13. BEHRENDT. STRIPPING AND CLEANING MACHINE.

APPLIOATION FILED MAB-21, 1905.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

IN VEf/TOR Eugeizefiefirendif I TTOBI/E r r": NDRRIS PETERS cu,WASHINGTON, n c,

UNITED STATES" PATENT OFFICE.

A EUGENE BEHRENDT, OF BATANGAS, PHILIPPINE ISLANDS, ASSIGNOR TO BEHRENDT& GO, OF NEW YORIQN. Y., A (JORPORATION OF NEW YORK.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented July 24, 1906.

Application filed March 21, 1905. Serial Nor 251i246;

To all whom it may concern.-

Batangas, Philippine Islands, have invented a new and Improved Strippingand. Cleaning Machine, of which the following is afull, clear, and exactdescription.

The object of the invention is to rovide a new and improved machineespecially adapted for treating the leaf-sheaths or band-like materialstripped off the abaca and like plants, and arranged to permit a quickand thorough separation of the pulp and freeing the fibers withoutinjury to the latter, the fibers being completely freed or cleaned ofthe pulp. The invention consists of novel features and parts andcombinations of the same, as will be more fully described hereinafterand then pointed out in the claims.

A practical embodiment of the invention is represented in theaccompanying drawings, forming a part of this specification, in whichsimilar characters of reference indicate corresponding parts in all theviews.

Figure 1 is a side elevation of the improvement,-parts' being brokenout. Fig.2 is a transverse section of the same on the line 2 2 ofFig. 1. Fig. 3 is a perspective view of the cleaning device, part beingbroken out. Fig. 4 is a similar view of the clamping-head for thematerial being treated. Fig. 5 is a sectional side elevation of thesame. Fig. 6 is a side elevation of a modified form of the improvement,and Fig. 7 is a perspective view of the endless-chain carrier for theclamping head.

A suitably-constructed frame A supports a table B, over which theleaf-sheath or bandlike material is drawn by the use of a head C, inwhich is clamped or otherwise secured one end of said band-likematerial. The material during its movement over the table in thedirection of the arrow a is successively acted on by a stripper D forremoving the main portion of the pulp and freeing the fibers, then by aseries of rolls E for preventing the fibers from curling up, and finallyby a cleaning device F for removing any adhering pulp from the fibers.

The head C'(shown in detail in Fi s. 4 and 5) consists, essentially, ofa fixed c ampingj aw C and a movable clamping-j aw C hinged at itsforward endat C to =the-for= ward end of the fixed clamping-jaw C, thesaid jaws being of zigzag shape, as'plain-ly' indicated in Fig. 5, tosecurely clamp the material between the jaws when the latter are closed.The free end of the hinged clamping-j aw C isadapted to be engaged by aspring-catch C, held on the free end of the other jaw C, to hold the awsin aclosed position with the material clamped between the same duringthe time the head moves over. the table B. The fixed clampingjaw C isfas tenedat its sides by hooks C or other means to carriers G, fastenedto longitudinally-extending traveling beams H, arranged adjacent to thesides of the table B, and the under sides of the beams H are mounted totravel between sets of rollers H H carried by the frameA, and the saidunder sides are also provided with longitudinally-extending racks H inmesh with pinions I, secured on a transversely-extending shaft I,journaled in suitable bearings arranged on the main frame A. On oneouter end of the shaft 1 is secured a gear-wheel 1 in mesh with a pinionI fastened on a driving-shaft I journaled in the main frame A andcarrying at one end a hand-wheel 1 under the control of the operator forturning the shaft I to rotate the shaft 1 by means of the pinion I andgear-wheel P. The rotar-y motion given to the shaft 1 and its pinion Icauses the latter to impart a traveling motion to the racks H andconsequently to the beams H and the head C, attached to the carriers G,fastened to the said beams, so that the said head 0 and the materialclamped therein are drawn forward over the table B in the direction ofthe arrow 0/, it being un-. derstood that the portions of the materialnot clamped in the head C are dragged behind the head over the table.

The stripper D extends transversely across the table B andis in the formof a heavy block of metal having on its bottom a forward extensiontapering to a sharp edge, and,

on the sides of the stripper are formed studs D, carrying rollers Dadapted to travel over the carriers G when the latter move'forwardlywith the beams H to raise the stripper For the purpose mentioned each ofthe car- 'riers G has its forward end in the form of an incline G,terminating in a horizontal top G leading to an inclined back G downwhich the rollers D travel to bring the stripper D into contact with thematerial trailing behind the head C. The stripper D is provided at itsmiddle with an upwardly-extending stem D mounted to slide vertically ina suitable bearing J, carried by a framework J, supported onlongitudinally-extending rails J attached to the main frame A. The upper end of the stem D is pressed on by a le- 'ver D fulcrumed at D onthe frame J and carryingat its free end an adjustable weight D to holdthe stripper D with suflicient force in contact with the material toenter the pulp thereof and to separate the pulp from the fiber duringthe time the material is drawn along under the stripper D. As shown, theweight D screws on the threaded end of the lever D to allow ofconveniently adjusting the weight to bear with more or less force on thestem D of the stripper D.

Each of the rolls E for preventing the fibers from curling up whiletraveling over the table between the stripper D and the cleaning deviceF extends transversely of the table B and is journaled in the lower endsof arms E, fulcrumed at E? on brackets J attached to the rails J Theupper ends of the arms E are pressed on by springs E at-' tached to therails J 2 and extending in opposite directions, so as to allow the armsE to swing either forward or backward, the rollers E, similarly to therolls D being adapted to travel up and down the inclines G and G of thecarriers G whenever the head passes under a roller. When the head 0 haspassed a roller E while traveling in a forward direction, then theroller E engages the fiber and holds the same firmly down on the table Bto prevent the fiber from curling up during its travel from the stripperD to the cleaning de vice F.

The cleaning device F consists, essentially, of two jaws F and F ofwhich the jaw F is carried by the table B and extends into a transverserecess in the same, and the upper surface of the jaw F is rounded offand has a covering F of rubber, the top of the cover being approximatelyflush with the top of the table B. The other jaw F is rounded at itsunder surface and provided with a covering F so that when the fibers aredrawn between the rubber-covered jaws F and F the pulp is completelystripped off the fibers to free the latter of any pulp, thus thoroughlycleaning the fibers. The uppermost jaw F is provided with anupwardly-extending stem F fitted to slide in a bearing J, carried by aframe J 5 attached to the rails J and the uper end of the said stem F ispressed on by a lbver F, carrying an adjustable weight F similar to theweight D on the lever D On the ends of the uppermost jaw F are journaledrollers F adapted to travel over the inclines G and G of'the carriers Gto raise the uppermost jaw F to allow the head 0 to pass underneath thesame, it being understood that after the head has passed the jaw F isimmediately forced downward onto the fibers to press the same betweenthe coverings F 3 and F of the jaws to free the fibers of pulp duringthe time the fibers are drawn between the jaws.

The operation is as follows: The head C when detached from the carriersG and when in an open position permits one end of the band-like materialto be placed on top of the jaw C with the pulp side up, and when thestalks have been arranged in this manner then the jaw C is swung downinto a closed position and locked therein by the springcatch 0 The headC thus carrying the material is now attached to the carriers G by theuse of the hooks C or other means, the carriers then being in theright-hand end position of the machine on the beams H. The operator nowturns the hand-wheel I so as to impart a forward traveling motion to thebeams H, carriers G, and head C, and during this forward travelingmotion the head C is passed under the stripper D, which is raised by thecarriers G to allow thehead to pass under the stripper, and when thehead has passed the stripper the latter immediately descends, sinks intothe pulp, and rests lightly on the fiber, so that the knife or sharpedge skives or strips the pulp from the fiber while the fiber or strandsare pulled along by the head C. The main portion of the pulp is strippedofi the fibers by the stripper D as the head moves onward and drags thefibers along over the table B and under the stripper D. As the head 0advances the carriers G engage the first roller E to swing the lowerportions of the arms E forwardly against the tension of thecorresponding forward spring E to raise the rollers E sufliciently forthe head to pass under the roller, and when the head has passed theforward spring E immediately draws the arms E back to a normal verticalposition, so that the first roller E moves down in contact with thefibers to prevent the same from curling up while moving forward over thetable B. This operation is repeated for the several rollers E until thehead finally passes under the jaw F temporarily raised, as previouslydescribed, the jaw after the passage of the head C immediatelydescending for engaging the fiber to clean the same of adhering pulp, aspreviously explained. When the fibers have been drawn through thecleaning device F, then the operator stops the hand-wheel I anddisconnects the head 0 from the carriers G for the removal of thecleaned fibers from the head. As soon as the head C is removed from thecarriers G the operator turns the TIO time

hand-wheel I in the reverse direction, so as to move the beams Hin theinverse direction of the arrow (1 to bring the carriers G back to astarting positionthat is, back to the right-hand side of the machine,the jaw F being lifted during this return movement to allow the-head Gto pass, and the arms E, carrying the rollers E, swing in the reversedirection for the same purpose, and the stripper D is raised to permitthe head C to returnto its starting position, the several so that theabove-described operation canbe repeatedv as soon as another filled headis connected with the carriersG.

In the modified form illustrated in Figs. 6 1

and 7 the beams H are dispensed with and in their stead endlesssprocket-chains K are em:

ployed passing over sprocket-pulleys K and K journaled on the frame A adistancebeyond the ends of the table B. The sprocketchains K areprovided with sets of projections or hooks K adapted to engage recessesG formedin the under side of the carriers G, employed for supporting aheadCin the manner previously described, it being understood that thehead 0, with its carriers and the material-clamped in the head, isplaced on a table L, arranged at one end of the machine to allow ofpushing the head 0 forward sufiiciently far for the hooks or projectionsK to engage the recesses Gr to carry the carriers G and the head Calong. When the head C, with its carriers G, is moved over the table B,the material is acted on successively by the stripper D, the rollers E,and the cleaning device F in the same manner as above described, so thatfurther description of this part of the machine is not deemed necessary.

hen the head C and its carriers reach the left-hand end of the machine,then the forward ends of the carriers pass onto rollers N,

thus disengaging the hooks K from the aper tures G and allowing the headC and its carriers G to slide down the rollers N, arranged in aninclined plane, for the head C and its carriers to finally land on areceiving-table 0. By reference to Fig. 6 it will be seen that two setsof hooks K are employed, arranged in such a manner that when the head Cand its carriers G leave the hooks K at the left-hand end of the machineand pass over the rollers N then another head C can engage the other setof hooks K now standing at the righthand end of the machine. In order toimpart a continuous traveling -motion to the sprocket-chains K, gearingP may be employed similar to the gearing previously described and usedfor imparting a forward and backward motion to the beams H. The gearingfor the endless sprocket-chains K may be driven by hand or by pulley andbelt from other machinery. As shown in Fig. 7, the sprocket-chains K arepreferably connected with each other by transverse bars K at the hooks Kto cause the sprocket-chains to travel in unison.

Having thus described my invention, I claim as new and desire to secureby Letters Patent 1. A stripping and cleaning machine comprising a tableover which the material is drawn, a head in which one end of the mate- 3rial is fastened, said head having inclines means for moving the headforward over the said table, a stripper having a sharp edge and partsall returning to their normal positions,

adapted to engage the material while being drawn forward, and means onthe ends of the said stripper, adapted to travel over the in clines onthe said head, to lift the stripper over the head as the latter passesunderneath.

form of a block having a forwardly-projecting extension at its bottom,said extension tapering to a sharp edge and adapted to engage thematerial while beingdrawn forward,

' and a cleaning device engaging the stripped material.

3. A stripping and cleaning machine comprising a table over which thematerial is drawn, a stripper in the form of a block hav ing a sharpenededge and provided with a stem sliding in a guideway, and a device forengaging the stem of the stripper to force the same downward into firmcontact with the material as the latter is drawn forward over the table.

4. A stripping and cleaning machine comprising a table over which thematerial is drawn, a stripper in the form of a block having a sharpenededge and provided with a central stem sliding in a guideway, a weightedlever for engaging the stem of the stripper to force the same downwardinto firm contact with the material as the latter is drawn forward overthe table, a clamping-head in which the material is fastened, and meansfor moving the head forward over the said table.

i 5. A stripping and cleaning machine com-- prising a table over whichthe material is drawn, a stripper mounted to slide up and down above thesaid table, a device for forcing the stripper downward into firm contactwith the material as the latter is drawn forward over the table, and acleaning device extending transversely across the table, forward of thesaid stripper, the said cleaning device comprising rounded-off jawsbetween which the fibers are drawn.

6. A stripping and cleaning machine comprising a-table over which thematerial is drawn, a stripper mounted to slide up and down above thesaid table, a device for forcing the stripper downward into firm contactwith the material as the latter is drawn forward over the table, and acleaning device extending transversely acrossthe table, forward of thesaid stripper, the said cleaning device comprising rounded-off jawsbetween which the fibers are drawn, the said jaws having rubber-coveredfaces.

7. A stripping and cleaning machine comprising a table over which thematerial is drawn, a stripper mounted to slide up and down above thesaid table, a device for forcing the stripper downward into firm contactwith the material as the latter is drawn forward over the table, acleaning device extending transversely across the table, forward of thesaid stripper, the said cleaning device comprising rounded-off jawsbetween which the fibers are drawn, one of the jaws being fixed andarranged in a recess in the table and the other jaw being mounted toslide up and down, and means for pressing the movable jaw downward.

8. A stripping and cleaning machine comprising a table, a head adaptedto travel over the table in the direction of its length, the head havingmeans for receiving and holding the material, a downwardly-pressedstripper extending across the table and having a sharpened edge toengage the material and strip the same of the pulp, a cleaning devicespaced from the stripper and extending across the table, the cleaningdevice having rounded-off jaws between which pass the fibers, androllers over the table, intermediate the said stripper and cleaningdevice, the rollers engaging the fibers to prevent the same from curlingup.

9. A stripping and cleaning machine comprising a table, a head adaptedto travel over the table in the direction of its length, the head havingmeans for receiving and holding the material, a downwardly-pressedstripper extending across the table and having a sharpened edge toengage the material and strip the same of the pulp, a cleaning devicespaced from the stripper and extending across the table, the cleaningdevice having rounded-off jaws between which pass the fibers,yieldingly-mounted rollers over the table, intermediate the saidstripper and cleaning device, the rollers engaging the fibers to preventthe same from curling up, and a hand or power actuated device forimparting a forward travel to the said head.

10. A stripping and cleaning device provided with a clamping-headcomprising a fixed and a stationary jaw, the jaws being hinged togetherat the forward ends and the jaws being step-shaped in cross-section andinterlocking with each other, and means for securing the movable jaw tothe fixed jaw after the jaws are closed.

11. A stripping and cleaning machine provided with a table, means fordrawing the material over the table, and a pair of cleaning-jawsextending transversely across the table, the jaws having rubber-coveredfaces between which the material is drawn.

12. A stripping and cleaning machine, provided with a traveling head forholding the material and having inclines, and a stripper in the form ofa block having a sharpened front edge and provided at its ends withrollers adapted to travel over the inclines of the head.

13. In a stripping and cleaning machine, a table over which the materialis drawn, a stripper for removing the pulp from the material, and aplurality of swinging and springpressed rollers for engaging thematerial stripped off the pulp to prevent the same from curling up.

14. In a stripping and cleaning machine, a table over which the materialis drawn, a stripper for removing the pulp from the material, armspivoted intermediate of their ends in front of the stripper, rollersmounted in the lower ends of the arms, and springs secured to the upperends of the arms and to a fixed support.

15. A stripping and cleaning machine, comprising a table over which thematerial is drawn, a stripper mounted to slide up and down above thetable, means for forcing the stripper into firm contact with thematerial as it is drawn forward overthe table, a cleaning deviceextending transversely across the table forward of said stripper, thesaid cleaning device comprising jaws between which the fibers are drawn,and a plurality of rollers interposed between the stripper and thecleaning device for preventing the material from curling up in itspassage from said stripper to the cleaning device.

In testimony whereof I have signed my name to this specification in thepresence of two subscribing witnesses.

EUGENE BEHRENDT.

Witnesses:

A. R. CLARK, NANCY P. KUHN.

